File, binder, or the like.



W. A. COOKE, JR. FlLE BINDER, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26. x915.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

1 Ir 12,,U4

ITNESSES W WILLIAM A. ooonn, .13., or BROOKLYN, EW YORK.

FILE, BINDER, OR THE LIKE.

Application filed April 26, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. CooKn, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Files, Binders, or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to files, binders, loose leaf books or the like, and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

In a prior patent granted to me on August 1S, 1914, No. 1,107,657, I have shown and described a binder having perforating means comprising a pl'in'ality of perforating'apertures preferably located in the cover of the binder, over which the sheet to be perforated is placed, a movable fiap or the like having similar apertures being arranged to. be pressed down over the top of the sheet, and the actual perforation being made by a pencil or other similar article. The present invention relates to this type of binder and provides a perforating means which co-acts with the binding structure so that in the preferred form of the invention the file cover may be made imperforate. The invention also includes certain other features of improvement which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several forms of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan of a file or binder showing one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the guiding fiap folded over.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a modified form.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 in Fi g. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan of a still further modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8, let A indicate the binder as a whole, which usually comprises covers B and C, the binder being provided with a lower binding strip D carrying filing prongs E which are flexible and which are adapted to be passed through the letters or other papers to be filed. An upper binding strip F is also usually provided which is formed with slots G G which the filing prongs enter when the binder is closed. The prongs are bent over the top of the binding strip F and are held in place plan illustrating a slightly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

Serial No. 24,088.

by clamps H H, shown as pivoted to the binding strip F, and being more or less U shaped in cross-section so as to embrace the strip. Preferably the strip is reinforced by a metal plate I, which is also of U-shape in cross-section.

In an application filed by me Serial No. 2%,087 of even date herewith, I have described and claimed broadly a device in which the perforating means is formed as a part of or located at the binding means thus described. The construction of Figs. 1 to 3 of the present application is illustrated in the aforesaid application as one of the forms of the invention.

According to the present invention, the binding means form a part of the perforating means. The lower perforating apertures are in this instance preferably formed in the clamps H and are each indicated by the reference letter J. These perforating "apertures are spaced apart substantially the same distance as the filing prongs E E so as to secure the same distance between the perforations in the paper as that between the prongs. The upper perforating apertures are preferably formed in a supplemental flap K which is shown as comprising a strip or flap of pasteboard hinged at its inner edge L to the binder in such position that when it is folded over, as shown in Fig. 2, its apertures M M aline with the apertures J J in the clamps H. The flap K may be formed as a separate strip pasted to the binder, as in Figs. 1 to 3, or it may be formed as shown at K in Figs. 4 and 5, of a portion, of the strip N which constitutes a part of the binder. Preferably the flap, in whatever form, is provided with eyelets O O which strengthen the walls of the apertures so as to prevent tearing or enlargement in use.

In the operation of using the binder shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the letter sheet to be filed is placed over the clamps in their closed position, (shown in Fig. 1), and the flap K is then folded down over the top of the paper, whereupon a pencil or other suitable instrument is passed through the eyelets O O and into the apertures J. During this operation the attached edge of the flap K serves as a rear guide so that the apertures are properly spaced from the edge of the sheet to be filed.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modification in which the flap K is formed as a part of V the cover 13, the apertures being made directly in the cover. In this construction the sheet to be filed is placed over the binding means as before, and the cover is then closed, whereupon a pencil may be passed from the exterior through the eyelets, as before.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will, of course, be understood that the apertures need not be completely closed, but may be open on one side to constitute notches.

What I claim is Y 1. In a file, binder or the like, the combination of a cover, binding means having an aperture adapted to admit a pencil or the like, and a member supplemental to the binding means and additional to the cover movable into and out ofposition above the latter, said member having an aperture which in "one position alines with that of the binding means. 7

2. In a file, binder or the like, the combination of 'a cover, binding means having an aperture adapted to admit a pencil or the like, and a member supplemental to the binding means and additional to the cover and hinged to the latter, said member being 1 adapted to be folded over the binding means and being provided with an aperture which, in such folded position, alines with the aperture in the binding means. I

3. Ina file, hinder or the like, the combination of binding means having an aperture adapted to admit a pencil or the like, and a member supplemental to the binding means and hinged; to the latter, said member being adapted to be folded over the binding means and being provided with an aperture Copies of this patent may be obtained for which in such folded position alines with the aperture in the binding means, and said member comprising a flap hinged to the file.

4:. A file, binder or the like, having filing prongs, a clamp for holding said filing prongs in position, said clamp having an aperture adapted to admit a pencil or the like, and a supplemental means adapted to be moved over said clamp, said supplemental means having an aperture adapted to aline with the aperture in the clamp.

5. A file, binder or the like, having filing prongs, a clamp for holding said filing prongs in position, said clamp having an aperture adapted to admit a pencil or the like, and a supplemental means adapted to be moved over said clamp, said supplemental means having an aperture adapted to aline with the aperture in the clamp, and a member carrying said supplemental means comprising a flap hinged to the binding means.

6. A file, binder or the like, comprising a binding means having a plurality of apertures adapted to admit a pencil or the like, and a supplemental means having a plurality of apertures, said supplemental means being adapted to be moved into position where such apertures aline with those in the binding means.

7. A file, binder or the like, having a cover, a plurality of prongs, a plurality of clamps for holding said prongs in position, each of said clamgps having an aperture adapted to receive a pencil or the like, and a flap hinged to said binder and adapted to lie over the top of said clamps in one position, and to lie flat along the cover in another position, and said flap having a plurality of apertures adapted to aline with those of the clamps when in said first position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. COOKE, JR. Witnesses A. T. GARLAND, M. S. MIDDLETON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

